Chapter 9 Homework

Political

In reality game shows, contestants often make deals with each other to support a particular position when deciding which show contestant should be eliminated. These contestants are using the _________ model of decision making

Non-programmed Decisions

It is not easy to reach these decisions. The circumstances surrounding them are unclear, needed information isn't easily available, and the results of the decision may be difficult to predict.

Well defined

A programmed decision is appropriate for situations that are:

Uncertainty

Aaron is a sales manager for the Bratney Companies, a company that manufactures equipment used in the processing of grains and other produce. Every year, Aaron must submit a request for the number of new sales representatives to be hired in the next year. Aaron's goal is clear—he must have enough sales reps to service all of Bratney's customers—but it is often difficult to predict how many customers the company will have. Sales are dependent on the economy, weather, farming trends, and a large number of other environmental factors. Aaron's decision about how many sales reps to hire is being made under conditions of ___________, because the goal is clear, but there is no clear solution to the problem

Classical

Before approving a new drug, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that companies submit the results of rigorous scientific testing on the drug's effectiveness. These results are reviewed by physicians, statisticians, chemists, pharmacologists, and other scientists who use logic to determine whether or not a drug is safe. These researchers are using the _________ model of decision making.

Not being aware enough of things going on around him to see where problems and opportunities exist

Bob is a manager at the New York Times who has lost five of his employees last year. Now he has to make a decision about how to retain the employees on his team. Having recently taken a class on decision making, Bob decides to follow the six-step process for deciding what to do. What problem is Bob most likely to face during the recognition of decision requirement step in the decision-making process?

Ambiguity

Decisions made under these circumstances are especially difficult because the decision maker doesn't have a clear objective and may not have a clear understanding of the issues at hand.

Programmed Decision

Every morning when you walk into Starbucks, you order the same thing: a venti green tea frappuccino with extra whipped cream. You can't drink anything else at Starbucks because you don't like hot beverages, coffee, or black tea, and you like your beverages tall and creamy. Your decision about what to order at Starbucks today is a:

Decision Making

For managers, this is the general process of identifying issues and determining what to do about them.

Coalition

In decision making, this term refers to a group of people who come together to endorse a particular approach to an issue or problem.

Jumping to solutions before understanding the problem

Kanha is a student at the University of Tennessee who recently got his first F. Now he has to make a decision about how to get his grades back up. Having recently taken a class on decision making, Kanha decides to follow the six-step process for deciding what to do. What problem is Kanha most likely to face during the diagnosis and analysis of causes step in the decision-making process?

Administrative

Managers often base their hiring decisions on gut feelings. These feelings are typically formed within two minutes of meeting a job applicant and have little to do with the applicant's ability to do the job. These hiring managers are using the __________ model of decision making.

Descriptive; People make decisions based on unconscious mental habits and models

The administrative model of decision making is __________, and its fundamental underlying assumption is that:

Normative; People make decisions rationally and logically

The classic model of decision making is ___________, and its fundamental underlying assumption is that:

High

The level of outcome knowledge associated with decisions made under conditions of certainty is

Descriptive; Decisions are made by groups with diverse interests, goals, and values

The political model of decision making is ___________, and its fundamental underlying assumption is that:

Satisficing

This behavioral characteristic suggests that people will often settle for the first acceptable solution to a problem rather than investigating all possible solutions.

Classical Model

This model of decision making suggests that people make decisions logically, taking the time to collect complete information about possible solutions and their results before making the choice that best fits the problem at hand.

Devil's advocate

This person is responsible for seeing the other side of a decision. By arguing with the group, he or she forces them to think more clearly about a problem.

Brainstorming

This technique for group decision making has four rules: generate as many ideas as possible; build on others' ideas; accept all ideas, no matter how crazy; and do not evaluate ideas.

Risk Propensity

This term refers to a person's tendency to take chances in hopes of gaining a favorable outcome.

Diagnosis

This term refers to the process of investigating a situation to determine why a problem or opportunity exists.

Normative

This type of model or theory tells people what to do: It prescribes how things should work.

Considering only "tried and true" solutions without creating new possibilities

Tokoni is a manager at a local Toyota dealership who has lost five of his employees last year. Now he has to make a decision about how to retain the employees on his team. Having recently taken a class on decision making, Tokoni decides to follow the six-step process for deciding what to do. What problem is Tokoni most likely to face during the development of alternatives step in the decision-making process?

Certainty

When a manager makes a decision under these circumstances, he or she knows exactly what choices are available and what the results of each choice will be.

Nonprogrammed Decision

You have a budget of $50,000, and you want to remodel your kitchen. Fortunately, you know a number of different contractors, but all of them have different ideas about the best way to remodel a kitchen. Your decision about which contractor to use is a: